Running Coach for Women, Couch to 5K Groups, Indoor Running Studio, Weightloss Accountability Groups & Product Reviews and Giveaways for Active Families. I am a mom of three from Madison, Wisconsin. Running has become my me time & makes me a better mom. I want to prove to other women that they, too, can carve out time for themselves each day.

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Monday, August 13, 2012

GU Performance Energy Sampler Review & Giveaway

If you are an endurance athlete, chances are, you have tried one product or another from Gu Energy (HERE). It's more than just slimy gels. They offer gels, chews, electrolyte drinks, recovery drinks .... they offer it all. And in so many great-tasting flavors (And, many with the caffeine that we long for!).

Gu Energy Gels (HERE) provide athletes with a dose of 100 calories to deliver high-quality, easily-digested and long-lasting energy for athletes in every sport and at all levels. Everything inside each packet of GU is engineered to do one simple thing: provide your body with the essential nutrition it needs to keep going for miles and miles and hours and hours. It goes down easy, and it goes to work fast so you don't have to slow down.

GU should be consumed 15 minutes before and then every 45 minutes thereafter.

Mint Chocolate is my absolute favorite, along with Vanilla Bean. And, now they offer peanut butter??? Yum. Some athletes complain about the "pudding-like" consistency. But, I don't mind it ... especially when I'm on the run. I carry 2-3 in my handheld water bottle and pull them out ever 40-60 minutes, as needed. I don't even need to stop to tear open the packet and consume it. I tend to "sip" on one over a mile or so and then toss it in the trash (don't litter!) or fold it back up into my handheld water bottle. I always down my gels with plenty of water. They key to consume these, is taking them BEFORE you feel like you need it. I love so many of the flavors, but tend to stay away from the berry flavors ... just my preference.

My boyfriend tried two for the first time yesterday and really liked the boost they gave him. It was one of his longest runs ever (12 miles) and they really helped him keep going and I noticed his pace increased during the miles immediately following consumption.

GU Chomps (HERE) are also a favorite of mine. It had been awhile since I had some of these "adult fruit snacks". They are soft and chewy ... and unlike other products out there, they don't stick to your teeth. My favorite is the Watermelon flavor -- I can't say enough about it. They taste AWESOME! I will be buying more ... SOON ... for the rest of my marathon training. I had one at mile 12 yesterday and didn't consume anything else, except water, until I completed 21 miles total. The carbs and electrolytes really gave me what I needed to get through those last eight-ish miles. I did consume the whole 2-serving packet. At 180 calories, it was a fair trade with the huge boost it gave me. It you prefer to chew something on your runs, versus the gels, I would highly recommend trying these. They rock. Enough said.

Chomps can be consumed before, during, and right after activity. A 2-serving packet will provide 180 calories and 60 grams of carbohydrates.

GU Electrolyte Brew Drink (HERE) is awesome. Brew, when mixed with water, contains the right amounts of sodium, potassium and carbohydrates to bring your system back into balance. The key is to use it consistently in your workout routine, which I have not done yet. I loved the Tropical Fruit and Grape flavors. I am not a fan of any Lemon-Lime beverages. But, you may enjoy it. Considering something different than when you find in the aisles of your local grocery store? Check it out .......

What's in it?

•Carbohydrate Blend - The mix of maltodextrin and fructose found in GU Electrolyte Brew serves a dual role: it supplies working muscles with easily available fuel, and it speeds up the rehydration process by stimulating the absorption of both electrolytes and fluid in the stomach. Research shows that the featured 2:1 ratio of complex to simple carbohydrates will improve endurance performance by increasing the rates of exogenous carbohydrate absorption.

•Sodium and Potassium - Electrolytes facilitate the neuromuscular system’s ability to work effectively so that your muscles keep doing what your brain tells them to do. Simply put, electrolytes help to avoid cramping. GU Electrolyte Brew packs 325mg of sodium and 50mg of potassium (Blueberry Pomegranate contains 490mg of sodium and 40mg of potassium) into one 21 oz. serving.

•Natural flavor and color - Studies show that taste, aroma, and color will most likely determine whether or not you keep drinking. Too much flavor or sweetness—often found in artificially flavored drinks—will cause you to stop hydrating after a while.

Gu states that unlike a lot of the sport drinks available GU Electrolyte Brew has a light, mildly sweet flavor that doesn't overwhelm the athlete during activity. Adding performance to taste, the optimized 2:1 complex to simple carbohydrate ratio allows athletes to keep going for hour after hour of activity.

For optimal results, always drink 20-30 oz. of GU Electrolyte Brew per hour during training or racing. Proper usage will help to replenish fluid and carbohydrate replenishment during activity

And, what a TREAT, I saved for last ... the GU Recovery Brew Drink (HERE) ... the yummy Chocolate Smoothie. The premium quality ingredients in GU Recovery Brew help you quickly replenish energy stores and rebuild muscles after an intense workout. GU’s Recovery Brew reinvents the category and evolves this critical training tool into a nutritional experience we’re confident you’ll actually enjoy. This recover drink, offers lots of whey protein isolate for speed recovery of muscle fibers; something I'm currently lacking in my diet. This tasted great after a 12 miler. I haven't had a chance to try it enough to see the effects, but I can definitely attest to the fact that it tastes sweet and was a really nice post-workout treat.

I love Gus! I love that they come in so many different flavors! I agree the berry ones are notttt for me. I can kind of stomach the mandarin orange without water--but vanilla is definitely the way to go. I used that during my half marathon last year. I am training for my first full marathon and using Gus religiously on my long runs. I love the energy rush I experience the mile after I take it! I'm so much faster! So in the end...gus are just fabuloussss

I use their gel but would like to try the Chomps. It took me a couple of times to get used to the pudding like texture but have to say on my last few long runs they really helped me keep going and finishing strong.

Hi. I'm just at that development in my running where I'm building up mileage & would need an energy supplement for LSD runs, so I'm enthused to read about GU, which I actually haven't tried yet. Anyway, what I, as a science fanatic, like about the mission of GU Energy--as stated on their Web site--is that GU is focused on research & development and, thus, quality & efficacy for the endurance athlete. So, I love that the "Vice President of R&D/Scientific Affairs sources only the highest quality ingredients and happily rejects raw materials if they are off spec. He also oversees the production process ... ensuring precision in the mixing process."Thanks again!Leigh S.wordsmithery (at) frontier (dot) com